Three juveniles could face felony charges after jail attack

LAS CRUCES - Three juveniles in custody at the Doña Ana County Detention Center could face felony charges after an incident that sent another detainee to an El Paso hospital.

The Doña Ana County Sheriff's Department is investigating the incident that occurred Wednesday in the juvenile section of the jail.

Around 11 a.m., according to a news release from Doña Ana County, detainee Adan Herrera rushed a door-control panel and opened three separate cell doors, allowing detainees Joaquin Solis and Jesus Vasquez to enter Anthony Lopez's cell. Inside the cell, Solis and Vasquez attacked Lopez, the release said, before being subdued with pepper spray. The incident appears to have been "carefully planned," according to the release.

The release said Lopez was evaluated at Memorial Medical Center before being transferred to University Hospital in El Paso for treatment of a fractured jaw.

While the sheriff's department conducts a criminal investigation, county officials said an internal investigation has been launched into how the incident occurred and whether staff safety protocols were violated.

Herrera, 16, was arrested April 16, and was being held on an unspecified probation violation. Solis, 17, was arrested on April 25, and was being held on charges of battery, an unspecified probation violation and resisting or obstructing an officer. Vasquez, 16, was arrested April 30, and was being held on a battery charge. Lopez, 14, was arrested Tuesday, and was being held on an unspecified probation violation.

The juvenile section is separated from the adult areas of the jail and at no time were adult detainees present during the incident, the release said.

The Doña Ana County Juvenile Detention Center — a separate building on the same grounds as the main facility — is scheduled to reopen later this week. It was closed in May 2015 because jail administrator Christopher Barela said he did not have an adequate staff of officers to operate both facilities.